Elevating Fermentation Temperature

[guinsu]

I was just wondering what the best method for elevating fermentation temperature was. My house gets a bit chilly in the winter, so I am probably fermenting around 62-65. Great for stouts, not so much for Belgians. Plus after reading brew like a monk I'd like to try fermenting a few beers around 80-85.

I've seem various types of heating belts for carboys as well as ideas for styrofoam coolers with lightbulbs in them. Which method works best and is safest? I assume I would need a temp controller, which don't seem to come too cheap. Are there controllers with multiple inputs, that way I could do 2 different beers at once?

 

[TipsyDragon]

on the cheap end there is the trash can and fish taken heater method. put the carboy in the trash can and fill the trash can with water to just below the water line on the carboy. then attach the fish tank heater to the carboy and set it. use the largest fish tank heater you can find.

on the expensive end get a fermwrap, Ronco 2-stage ETC, and a thermowell carboy cap. the 2-stage is nice because you can use it for both heating and cooling at the same time. each plug can be set to different temps and different heat/cool cycles. the thermowell will allow you to put the temperature lead into the middle of the wort without it getting wet. as far as 1 controller with two leads, to my knowledge there is no such animal.

 

[maida7]

on the expensive end get a fermwrap, Ronco 2-stage ETC, and a thermowell carboy cap. the 2-stage is nice because you can use it for both heating and cooling at the same time. each plug can be set to different temps and different heat/cool cycles. the thermowell will allow you to put the temperature lead into the middle of the wort without it getting wet. as far as 1 controller with two leads, to my knowledge there is no such animal.

I have this Ranco ETC with the dual output. But I have found that the thermowell is not really needed. I just tape the sensor to the side of the carboy and it works great. I use a fridge for the cooling cycle and a ceramic heating bulb for heat. The control is awesome. The fermenter is always within one degree of whatever I have it set for.

I have used it for multiple carboys. Just put the carboys back to back with the sensor between them.